Donald Trump on Monday said that the United States had “hit” an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, which would mark the first known time the US carried out operations on land in Venezuela since a pressure campaign began against the President Nicolas Maduro government.“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said.“We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area… it’s the implementation area.”It was not immediately clear which part of the US govt acted and what target was hit. Trump previously said that he authorised the CIA to carry out covert operations in Venezuela.On a radio show last week, Trump made vague comments about an apparent US operation against a “big facility” in Venezuela. The Central Intelligence Agency, the White House and the Pentagon did not publicly elaborate on those comments and declined to comment on questions posed by Reuters. The Venezuelan government did not comment on the incident Trump described and there were no independent reports from Venezuela of it.The administration previously touted its success in taking out suspected drug trafficking vessels, and the Pentagon posted footage of several of its strikes on social media. The lack of response by US national security agencies raised questions about whether the incident Trump mentioned was carried out covertly. Such an operation would likely limit the ability of US officials to speak on the matter.Last month, Reuters reported that the US was poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations, as the Trump administration escalated pressure on Maduro’s govt. At the time, two US officials said covert operations would likely be the first part of the new action against Maduro.The US mission primarily focused on military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels and prompted intense oversight from Congress. More than 100 people were killed in more than 20 strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.Earlier this month, US military leaders briefed lawmakers on an incident in September in which an American strike killed 11 people but left several survivors. They were killed in a second strike ordered by Admiral Frank Bradley. Democrats on Capitol Hill questioned whether the second strike was conducted in accordance with international law.Trump’s comments came amid a massive US military build up in the Caribbean, including more than 15,000 troops.

India’s headcoach Gautam Gambhir with players Hardik Pandya, centre, captain Suryakumar Yadav and others during the fifth T20I in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

NEW DELHI: According to former Australia cricketer Tom Moody, India has so much talent that picking the best team has become very difficult. While this is a good situation to be in, it also puts a lot of pressure on selectors and captains.

“One of the issues with Indian cricket is that there is too much talent. There are simply too many options. It’s a wonderful problem to have, but it becomes a nightmare for a selector or a captain,” Moody said on JioHotstar.Former England captain Eoin Morgan also shared his views, especially on white-ball cricket. He stressed the importance of a strong bowling unit in winning big tournaments. Morgan believes that when a team can defend low scores, it builds confidence and belief. This mindset, he feels, can make a team very dangerous in competitions like the World Cup. He said, “In white-ball cricket, bowling attacks win you tournaments. When you can defend low scores, it creates a belief within the team that you can win a game from anywhere. That belief becomes a big threat for any team in a World Cup.”These comments come at a time when India has announced its squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team in his first ICC tournament as captain, with Axar Patel named as vice-captain. The squad was unveiled earlier this month by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia at the board’s headquarters, alongside chief selector Ajit Agarkar.India’s batting looks aggressive and flexible. Abhishek Sharma, known for his explosive style and high strike rate, is likely to open the innings with Sanju Samson. Ishan Kishan has returned to the T20 setup as a backup opener and wicketkeeper after last playing in 2023.The middle order appears strong, with players like Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Rinku Singh providing both power and balance. In bowling, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy lead the spin department, while Jasprit Bumrah heads the fast-bowling attack along with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.India have been placed in Group A with Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan and the United States. The team will begin its World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai.

NEW DELHI: India are set to host New Zealand for a high-profile eight-match limited-overs series beginning on January 11. The tour will feature three One Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals, with matches scheduled across multiple venues in the country through January 31. The series comes at a crucial juncture, with several senior players returning to the ODI format and the T20 side looking to fine-tune combinations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which gets underway on February 7.

The ODI leg of the series is expected to draw significant attention, particularly with stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma making their anticipated return to the 50-over format. Meanwhile, the T20Is will act as a final testing phase for Suryakumar Yadav’s side as they prepare for their World Cup title defence.

Ind vs NZ ODI 2026 squad announcement: All you need to know

While the BCCI has already announced the T20I squad for the New Zealand series, the ODI squad is yet to be named. The BCCI selection committee is likely to hold an online meeting around January 3 or 4 to finalise the ODI squad for the home series against New Zealand.New Zealand have already announced their T20I and ODI squads for India series.New Zealand’s ODI squad vs IndiaMichael Bracewell (C), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young

India vs New Zealand T20Is: Squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan KishanNew Zealand: Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi India vs New Zealand – Full ODI Schedule

India vs New Zealand – Full T20I Schedule

Former Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showered praise on Australia pacer Nathan Ellis during the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 season. Ashwin said that Ellis could play a key role for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with the ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, given his skills and variations.

With Matheesha Pathirana moving to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the Super Kings will need to find a reliable option for the death overs. Nathan Ellis could be a good option, even if he is not a like-for-like replacement. Ellis, who was part of CSK’s squad last season, featured in just one match, taking one wicket for 38 runs.

Nathan Ellis Leads Hobart Hurricanes’ Bowling Effort Against Renegades

Hobart Hurricanes skipper Nathan Ellis played a crucial role in restricting the Melbourne Renegades to 162/9 after winning the toss. The Renegades got off to a flying start, but poor shot selection and soft dismissals triggered a collapse against disciplined bowling.

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Ellis led the Hurricanes’ attack with control and smart variations. He struck at key moments and finished with impressive figures of 3 for 30. With strong support from the rest of the bowling unit, Ellis ensured the Renegades were kept to a total around 20 to 25 runs below par.

After reaching 72/2 inside the Powerplay, the Renegades lost wickets regularly through the middle overs. Some resistance from the lower order could not repair the damage, and another collapse during the Power Surge left them well short of a competitive score.

Nathan Ellis Are Locked At the ‘Punk’ – Ravichandran Ashwin

After the Melbourne Renegades’ innings, Ravichandran Ashwin said that Nathan Ellis bowled well across all stages of the innings. Ashwin added that Ellis has all but secured a fixed role in the death overs for Chennai Super Kings, adding that he could become a regular feature in the IPL 2026 season.

“The men in yellove will be happy with how he’s been shaping up. 4-0-30-3 for Hobart Hurricanes today,” Ravichandran Ashwin wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“Most importantly, 2-0-15-2 at the death, bowling 17 and 20, nailing his yorkers and change of pace. Safe to say two overs of Ellis are locked at the ‘Pauk’ in the death for the summer of 26?” he added.

The men in yellove will be happy with how he’s been shaping up.

4-0-30-3 for Hobart Hurricanes today.

Most importantly, 2-0-15-2 at the death, bowling 17 and 20, nailing his yorkers and change of pace.

Safe to say two overs of Ellis are locked at the ‘Pauk’ in the death for… pic.twitter.com/zjkg0ipXJQ

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 29, 2025

Nathan Ellis Could Be a Key All-Phase Bowler for CSK

Nathan Ellis is seen as a bowler who thrives on responsibility and can be trusted at any stage of an innings. That flexibility makes him a valuable option for Chennai Super Kings, whose bowling attack has experience but lacks a player who can be relied upon in all situations.

Ellis bowls with intensity throughout his spell and offers a wide range of variations. While he may not be an express fast bowler, he hits the pitch hard, keeps his pace skiddy, and consistently attacks the stumps, making life uncomfortable for batters.

His clever use of slower balls and changes of pace could be particularly effective on the low, slow surfaces at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Given those conditions, Ellis has the skills to become a genuine difference-maker for CSK, especially in pressure moments.

Also read: Nikhil Chaudhary suffers HORRIFIC INJURY in BBL 2025-26, carried off the field

Red tape may be often associated with officialdom but for J&K’s paperless bureaucracy, green is the go-to colour this year-end as it has achieved the equivalent of “planting over 4.5 lakh trees or taking over 2,200 cars off the roads permanently”, according to a study.Released on Monday, the study by Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, secretary in J&K’s science and technology department, shows the govt’s move from paper files to digital systems has helped avoid more than 62,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.Digitisation has removed the need for over 20 million paper pages each year, saving thousands of trees and cutting pollution, says Choudhary’s study, published by Journal of Research in Environmental and Earth Sciences. The research provides a first-of-its-kind, scientifically grounded environmental impact evaluation of digital public administration in a fragile Himalayan ecosystem.The govt formally shifted from physical movement of files to e-office in 2021. Choudhary calls it a turning point in the region’s administrative history. “The environmental impact was massive — 10,294 tonnes of CO2 eliminated every year. The scale of what changed is hard to grasp until you see the numbers. Since 2021, this transition has avoided printing 405.7 million pages. Think about that. Hundreds of millions of paper sheets that never got manufactured, never got transported, never ended up in landfills. Tens of thousands of trees still standing,” Choudhary said.The science and technology secretary explained the changes further. “As of mid-2025, over 26,000 users in the civil secretariat and more than 31,000 at HoD levels actively use the e-Office platform, processing millions of files and receipts annually. The transition has replaced physical file transport and in-person correspondence with a digital ecosystem supported by secure networks, VPNs, and over 1.8 lakh official email addresses,” says the study.The research was based on data from 2018 to 2025, administrative records, transport logs and energy consumption patterns, all analysed using international methodologies. “Now, 114,826 officials process everything digitally. They’ve handled 3.75 million files and 34 million receipts without paper. It’s faster, more transparent, and dramatically better for the environment,” Choudhary said.According to the secretary, the changes mark a paradigm shift in “our thinking on climate action”. “We focus so much on big industrial changes. But govt operations themselves have a significant carbon footprint. When you digitise an entire administrative system, especially in ecologically sensitive mountain regions, the environmental gains are substantial and immediate.”Choudhary held up the efforts as a model for administrative systems across India, especially in hilly states. “The combination of difficult terrain, fragile ecosystems, and administrative needs makes digital governance not just efficient but environmentally essential,” he said.